After briefly explaining the situation to the shift manager, Jiang Xuehan sat at the computer opposite Zhang Yuan. She logged into her League of Legends account and joined the custom room. Zhang Yuan, of course, picked Zed, the Master of Shadows, while Jiang Xuehan was randomly assigned Viktor, the Machine Herald.

For summoner spells, Zed—a assassin—typically took Ignite and Flash. Viktor opted for Ghost and Flash. The solo match began.

The earlier commotion had drawn attention. Several net cafe patrons now stood behind their screens, curious spectators. After all, girls playing competitive games were rare. This petite girl was even pretty—but her skills? Unknown.

In a solo, victory went to whoever destroyed the first turret or last-hit one hundred minions.

At level one, Viktor held the advantage. Zed’s auto-attack range was shorter. Viktor could poke Zed freely, but Zed couldn’t retaliate. So Zed prioritized his Q ability—it helped last-hit minions and harass Viktor.

True to form, Zhang Yuan’s Zed showed skill. Knowing his level-one weakness, he didn’t force minion kills. Instead, he waited for gaps in Viktor’s last-hits to secure low-health minions.

But Viktor’s Q reset his auto-attacks. Whenever Zed tried to last-hit during Viktor’s pauses, Viktor instantly used Q to drain Zed’s health. Soon, Zed was too pressured to step forward.

Since Q was a targeted skill, Viktor didn’t care about Zed’s flashy dodges or precise aim. Before level three, he’d just whittle Zed’s health. Viktor was a farming champion, after all.

Zed realized this. Still level one, not yet in his power spike, and hampered by range, he’d lose the last-hit contest. In the last wave, he’d only secured three of six minions to avoid harassment—Viktor got all six.

No worries. This wasn’t Zed’s strong phase. If he couldn’t farm, he’d take first blood. At level three, Zed’s W-Q-E-auto-Ignite combo would guarantee a kill.

Zhang Yuan noticed his health dropping while Viktor remained untouched. Every time he predicted Viktor’s position for Q, Viktor dodged with his second Q’s speed boost. This girl had real talent.

For now, Zhang Yuan could only wait for level three to unleash his burst. That’s what he thought.

Finally, after Viktor hit level three, Zed slowly reached it too.

But Zed’s health and minion count looked grim. In five minutes, Viktor had denied him over ten last-hits. Viktor was at half health—still far better than Zed’s near-empty bar. Anyone watching would think Zed was getting crushed.

Viktor’s dodging was insane! Whether Zhang Yuan pre-aimed his Q or not, he always missed. Shurikens whizzed past Viktor’s shoulders—so close, yet never connecting. Terrifying!

Sweat beaded slightly on Zhang Yuan’s forehead. He’d faced Viktor before, even at level one. With precise Qs, he’d always traded evenly. Never had an opponent dodged every single shuriken. So scary!

Zed’s skill lived or died by Q accuracy. A "Naruto Zed" landed every shuriken; a "noob Zed" missed every one. In this match, Zhang Yuan felt like the noob.

This couldn’t continue!

Watching his health drain and farm suffer, Zhang Yuan’s eyes flashed with resolve. Level three was Zed’s peak—a assassin’s prime. His two power spikes were levels three and six. With no defensive items, his full combo killed squishies instantly.

He began hunting the perfect moment to burst Viktor down and end the solo.

It came quickly. Viktor overextended slightly to last-hit a minion—a clear opening!

"Sorry, I’m ending this!" Zhang Yuan flashed a confident grin. His Zed dashed forward, instantly casting W, then E. The shadow mimicked E, slowing Viktor on hit. To ensure Qs landed, slowing was essential.

Viktor’s movement speed dropped sharply. Zhang Yuan’s eyes gleamed. He activated his second W—shifting positions—and fired Qs at Viktor. If both hit, followed by an auto-attack triggering Thunderlord’s Decree and Ignite, Viktor would die.

But was it that simple?

Though slowed, Jiang Xuehan stayed calm. She activated Ghost immediately, negating the slow. With precise footwork, Viktor dodged both shurikens. Viktor still had three-quarters health; Zed was down to half.

Now Zed was on cooldown. Jiang Xuehan pounced. She predicted his movement, casting W to zone him, then kited with A-Q-A-E. Trapped by W and E, Zed had to Flash back to tower or die. Reluctantly, he Flash-retreated and recalled.

Recalling cost him two minion waves—including a cannon wave of thirteen minions. Combined with earlier denies, Zed was down over twenty last-hits. He could only afford two short swords. Pathetic.

Seeing Zed recall, Jiang Xuehan stopped mana-farming. She shoved the wave with abilities, then recalled herself. This recall was sweet—she’d upgrade her Hex Core and buy boots.

Viktor returned to lane. Zed had only two short swords and two health potions—no dagger, no components. Clearly crushed. Viktor, meanwhile, had upgraded his Hex Core and bought boots. They looked like a beggar versus a landlord.

This time, Zed knew his combo wouldn’t kill Viktor. He stayed calm, farming safely under tower. Though still pressured, he used Q to last-hit. Surprisingly, the health loss felt manageable to Zhang Yuan.

At least his Ignite was unused. At level six, he could still kill her. Viktor was AP—Zed’s burst would delete her. Even if he died in return, securing first blood meant victory!

A stalemate settled. Zed stayed outside Viktor’s range, occasionally Q-ing low-health minions without leaving XP range. The earlier bloodlust vanished completely.

Jiang Xuehan had a trick. Against standard builds—prioritizing E, then Q, then W—she’d maxed W instead. She’d calculated a trap.

While farming, she never used E, making Zhang Yuan assume she’d leveled it.

Soon, Zed finally hit level six. Zhang Yuan nearly cried with relief. Jiang Xuehan had eighty last-hits; he had forty. It felt like a Diamond stomping Bronze. But a solo kill would wash away the shame!

Spotting level six, Zhang Yuan instantly activated R. He Flash-dashed near Viktor, then cast R. This time, he’d pull off the legendary triple-Q: upon landing, he’d W, then E-Q, Ignite, and auto-attack. Viktor would die. This was Zed’s ultimate burst—maximized damage. Even a level higher, no one survived it.

Had Jiang Xuehan not anticipated this? No. She’d seen it coming. That’s why she’d maxed W—its longer stun duration was perfect for this moment.

As Zed Flash-dashed in, Viktor placed a W behind the turret. While Zed was mid-R, she Flash-retreated into her own W. She’d calculated it: Zed would land stunned. That’s why she’d pre-placed the W.

What?!

Zhang Yuan couldn’t believe his eyes. His screen had gone dark.

He’d planned perfectly—if all skills landed, Viktor died. But Viktor had timed her W’s stun with his R. She’d placed W under tower before his R, then Flash-retreated into it mid-R. Zed landed stunned, no time to W back. The turret’s laser also fired—he’d been flagged for attacking under tower.

Worst of all, the moment Zed landed, Jiang Xuehan’s Viktor unleashed R-A-Q-A-E. Turret lasers, W’s stun, and the full combo crashed down. Zed had no choice but to die.

The screen flashed violently. Spectators instinctively covered their eyes. When the light faded, Jiang Xuehan’s face was calm as still water. Zhang Yuan slumped in his chair, drained of all strength. His face was pale, eyes vacant.